22-year-old found not guilty of murder

An Oahu jury returned a not-guilty verdict yesterday in the trial of a man accused of murder in connection with a fatal stabbing outside a downtown nightclub nearly three years ago.

Authorities released Sheldon Amuo, 22, yesterday after the jury returned its verdict. Amuo was charged with murder for killing Samio Saingo outside Club Pauahi on July 17, 2005.

Saingo, 24, died from stab wounds in his stomach and back he suffered in a fight as the nightclub was closing at about 1:30 a.m.

According to testimony presented in trial, Amuo and three other males were drinking at a downtown parking lot when Saingo started harassing them. The four males later went into the nightclub, which was having a "Micronesian Fun Night" promotion.

Bouncers did not allow Saingo into the nightclub. But he continued harassing the four males after they exited the nightclub, and got into a fight with one of them.

The three others, including Amuo, joined in, police said. They all fled in a taxicab after Saingo was stabbed.

Police believe Amuo left the state after the stabbing and was living with relatives in Oregon. They arrested him in August 2006 when he returned to Oahu.